Price Gouging

The Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act is activated when the governor or the president declares a state of emergency covering parts of Virginia. The act prohibits a "supplier" from charging unconscionable prices for "necessary goods and services" within the affected area during the thirty (30) day period following the declared state of emergency.

The term "necessary goods and services" includes goods or services for which demand does, or is likely to, increase as a result of the disaster.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

water

ice

food

generators

batteries

home repair services

tree removal services

motor fuels

The basic test for determining if a price is unconscionable, is whether the post-disaster price charged by the "supplier" grossly exceeds the price charged for the same or similar goods or services either by the same supplier, or within the same trade area, during the ten (10) days immediately prior to the disaster. Complaints relating to sales of "necessary goods and services" other than motor fuels should be filed with the Office of the Attorney General.

THIS FORM IS FILED WITH THE VA. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES’ OFFICE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES – Mailing address is on the form

For further assistance call our Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-552-9963 if calling from Virginia, or (804) 786-2042 if calling from the Richmond area or from outside Virginia. Our business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.